Bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly

ABSTRACT

A bicycle rack refers to a rack installed onto a trunk at the back of a car for carrying bicycles, and the rack can carry at least one bicycle. A resistor can be installed to or detached from the bicycle rack to form a rear wheel stand. The rear wheel stand can be fixed onto a plane for supporting and lifting the rear wheel of a bicycle to define the bicycle as a fitness bicycle. The resistor type rear wheel stand is a part of the training platform of the bicycle which refers to the front wheel direction steering device and the foregoing resistor type rear wheel stand, and both sections are connected to a computer, such that the front wheel direction steering device can output a direction signal to the computer, and the computer will control the resistance of the rear wheel stand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to bicycles, and more particularly to a bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly. A bicycle rack refers to a rack installed onto a trunk at the back of a car for carrying bicycles, and the rack can carry at least one bicycle. A resistor is installable to or detachable, from the bicycle rack to form a rear wheel stand. The rear wheel stand can be fixed onto a plane for supporting and lifting the rear wheel of a bicycle to define the bicycle as a fitness bicycle. The resistor type rear wheel stand is a part of the training platform of the bicycle which includes a front wheel direction steering device and the foregoing resistor type rear wheel stand, and both sections are connected to a computer, so that the front wheel direction steering device can output a direction signal to the computer, and thus the computer can control the resistance of the rear wheel stand.

2. Description of the Related Art

To allow a car to carry a bicycle, related manufacturers have developed many types of bicycle racks, and most bicycle racks are installed at the top or the rear of a car and use the space outside the car to carry the bicycle.

To make a moving tool into a fixed fitness equipment, manufacturers have developed many types of front wheel stands or rear wheel stands. Particularly, the rear wheel stand lifts up the rear wheel from the ground, so that a rider can pedal the bicycle without moving the bicycle forward, since the rear wheel is suspended from the ground. In general, a rear wheel stand installs a resistor to provide resistance to the rear wheel, so as to change the rotary resistance of the rear wheel and the rider has to pedal the bicycle with a larger force.

For years, bicycle racks and rear wheel stands are two totally different devices. In other words, a traditional bicycle rack cannot be used as a rear wheel stand, and a traditional rear wheel stand cannot be used as a bicycle rack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly, and the assembly can be installed at the trunk of a car for carrying bicycles, or the bicycle can be fixed at a fixed point on a plane and the rear wheel of the bicycle is lifted, and a resistor is added to the bicycle rack to provide resistance to the rear wheel so as to change the rotary resistance of the rear wheel, and thus changing the bicycle into a fitness bicycle at a fixed point.

To achieve the foregoing objective of the present invention, the technical characteristics comprise:

two corresponding parts, disposed on the left and the right sides and parallel with each other, and each of the corresponding parts includes a first rod and a second rod pivotally coupled with each other at an end with a predetermined included angle;

a transversal rod, separately coupled to a free end of the first and second rods, and the transversal rod includes a damper fixing section;

a wheel axle fixing component, separately installed at each corresponding component, and each of the two wheel axle fixing components includes an axle sleeve corresponding to each other, and the wheel axle fixing component is capable of adjusting the distance between the two axle sleeves;

a hanging rod, separately installed at the foregoing two first rods, and the two hanging rods are of the same height and extended to the direction away from the second rod;

a plurality of fixing straps, each having an end fixed to the first and second rods, and the other end having a hook; and

the damper fixing section, for installing a damper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly acting as a bicycle rack according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an assembly acting as a bicycle rack according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembly acting as a rear wheel stand according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an assembly acting as a rear wheel stand according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a section of an assembly and a damper according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly as depicted in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an assembly as depicted in FIG. 6, and the angle of illustrating the damper is different from that of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 for the perspective view of the present invention, the assembly according to the present invention comprises the following elements:

Two corresponding parts 10 are disposed on the left and right sides and parallel to each other, and each corresponding part 10 includes a first rod 11 and a second rod 12, and a transversal axle pipe 21 is disposed at an end of the first rod 11, and the axle pipes 21 of the two corresponding parts 10 correspond to each other along the axial direction, a pair of pivotal ears 25 are disposed at the exterior of the axle pipe 21, and each pivotal ear 25 is pivotally coupled to an end of the second rod 12.

A transversal rod 13 is transversally and separately coupled to a free end of the first and second rods 11, 12, and each transversal rod 13 includes at least one pad 14, and the transversal rod 13 further includes a damper fixing section 40.

A wheel axle fixing component 20 is disposed separated on each corresponding part 10, and each wheel axle fixing component 20 includes the foregoing transversal axle pipe 21, and an axle 22 pivotally coupled into the axle pipe 21, and the axle pipe 21 and the axle 22 are connected by a screw thread relation. One end of the axle 22 includes a rotary adjusting section 23, and the other end includes an axle sleeve 24. The axle sleeves 24 of the two wheel axle fixing components 20 axially correspond to each other. The axle 22 can be axially adjusted for a displacement to change the distance between the two axle sleeves 24.

A hanging rod 30 is installed separately on the foregoing two first rods 11, and the two hanging rods 30 have the same height and are extended towards a direction away from the second rod 12. The foregoing hanging rods 30 are installed onto the first rods 11 by a plurality of screws, and each hanging rod 30 includes at least one fixing component 32.

A plurality of fixing straps 35 are long elastic straps having an end fixed to the first and second rod 11, 12 and the other end includes a hook 36.

In FIG. 2, the assembly as illustrated by FIG. 1 is installed onto the trunk 91 at the back of a car 90 as a bicycle rack for carrying a bicycle 93. The second rod 12 of the foregoing assembly is placed on the top of the trunk 91, and the first rod 11 is extended to a bumper 92. The hooks 36 of a plurality of straps 35 are hooked into predetermined positions of the trunk 91 and under the bumper 92. The hanging rod 30 can hold a bicycle 93, and the foregoing fixing component 32 is used to fix a front transversal rod 94 of the bicycle 90 to prevent the bicycle 90 from sliding.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the main components shown in FIG. 1 are illustrated. A damper 41 is installed onto a damper fixing section 40 of a transversal rod 13. The two transversal rods 13 are fixed onto a plane (such as a flat floor), and the pads 14 are provided for a slippery resisting purpose, so that the assembly of the present invention can serve as a rear wheel stand.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the way of installing the damper 41 to the damper fixing section 40 is illustrated. The damper 41 includes a pivotal base 42 to be installed onto the transversal rod 13. The pivotal base 42 is movably and pivotally coupled to an end of a swinging rod 43, and the other end of the swinging rod 43 includes a roller seat 44, and the roller seat 44 includes a roller 45. The roller 45 is coaxially coupled to a magnetic control load wheel 46. The swinging rod 43 includes a long hole 47. The long hole 47 corresponds to the foregoing damper fixing section 40, and the damper fixing section 40 is pivotally coupled to a screw rod 48. A free end of the screw rod 48 is passed through the long hole 46 and locked by a knob 49. FIGS. 5 and 6 further indicate that the screw rod 48 is passed into a lining sleeve 481. An end of the lining sleeve 481 is pivotally coupled to a hole 401 fixed in the damper fixing section 40 for passing the screw rod 48, such that the screw rod 48 will not be separated from the damper fixing section 40 along the tilted direction.

Refer to FIGS. 3 and 4. If the assembly of the invention is used as a rear wheel stand, the axle sleeves 24 of the foregoing wheel axle fixing component 29 are sheathed into both sides of the wheel axle of the rear wheel 95 of a bicycle, and the rear wheel 95 is lifted up from the ground. The roller 45 of the damper 41 is in contact with the rear wheel 95 of the bicycle. A user can pedal the pedal of the bicycle by both legs, such that the rear wheel 95 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure to further rotate the roller 45. The pedaling force overcomes the damping of the load wheel 45. The function of the rear wheel stand of the bicycle is to make the bicycle as a fitness bicycle at a fixed point. The hanging rod 30 can be removed, when the assembly of the invention is used as the rear wheel stand.

The angle of the foregoing damper can be adjusted, such that the roller 45 is in contact with the rear wheel 95 of the bicycle. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 for the adjustment of the angle, a user turns the knob 49 by hands, so that the knob 49 produces a screwing displacement along the screw rod 48 and the swinging rod 43, and is stopped at a predetermined position. When the knob 49 at this position is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 6 by the rear wheel 95 of the bicycle, a force is exerted onto the swinging rod 43 to shift the swinging rod 43 towards the knob 49. Therefore, when the distance between the knob 49 and the damper fixing section 40 become smaller, the damper 41 can be in contact with a rear wheel 95 of a smaller diameter as shown in FIG. 6. On the other hand, if the distance between the knob 49 and the damper fixing section 40 becomes larger, then the damper 41 can be in contact with a rear wheel 951 of a larger diameter.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures. 

1. A bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly, comprising: two corresponding parts, disposed on the left and right sides and parallel to each other, and said each corresponding part comprising a first rod and a second rod being pivotally coupled at an end with a predetermined included angle; a transversal rod, separately and transversally coupled to a free end of said first and second rods and including a damper fixing section; a wheel axle fixing component, separately disposed on said each corresponding part, and each of said two wheel axle fixing components including an axle sleeve axially facing with another axle sleeve, and said wheel axle fixing component being capable of adjusting the distance between said two axle sleeves; a hanging rod, installable to or detachable from said two first rods, and said two hanging rods having the same height and being extended in a direction away from said second rod; and a plurality of fixing straps, each having an end fixed to said first and second rods, and the other end including a hook.
 2. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 1, wherein said two wheel axle fixing components separately include an axle pipe fixed onto said first rod; an axle pivotally coupled into said axle pipe, and an axle sleeve disposed on the opposite end of said axle, such that said axle is moved in said axle pipe to change the distance between said two axle sleeves.
 3. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 2, wherein said axle pipe and said axle are coupled by a screw thread relation.
 4. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 3, wherein said axle includes a knob section disposed on the opposite side of said axle sleeve.
 5. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 2, wherein said axle pipe at its exterior includes a pair of pivotal ears pivotally coupled to the top of said second rod.
 6. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 1, wherein said transversal rod includes at least one pad.
 7. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 1, wherein said each hanging rod includes at least one fixture.
 8. A bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly, comprising: two corresponding parts, disposed on the left and right sides and parallel to each other, and said each corresponding part comprising a first rod and a second rod being pivotally coupled at an end with a predetermined included angle; a transversal rod, separately and transversally coupled to a free end of said first and second rods and including a damper fixing section; a wheel axle fixing component, separately disposed on said each corresponding part, and each of said two wheel axle fixing components including an axle sleeve axially facing with another axle sleeve, and said wheel axle fixing components being capable of adjusting the distance between said two axle sleeves; a plurality of fixing straps, having an end fixed to said first and second rods, and the other end including a hook; and a damper, installed at said damper fixing section.
 9. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 8, wherein said damper includes a pivotal base installed on said transversal rod, and said pivotal base is movably and pivotally coupled to an end of a swinging rod, and the other end of said swinging rod includes a roller seat, and said roller seat includes a roller, and said roller is coaxially coupled to a magnetic load wheel, and said swinging rod includes a long hole, and said long hole corresponds to said damper fixing section, and said damper fixing section is pivotally coupled to a screw rod, and a free end of said screw rod passes through said long hole and is secured by a knob.
 10. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 8, wherein said two wheel axle fixing component separately include an axle pipe fixed onto said first rod; an axle pivotally coupled into said axle pipe, an axle sleeve disposed on the opposite end of said axle, such that said axle is moved in said axle pipe to change the distance between said two axle sleeves.
 11. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 10, wherein said axle pipe and said axle are coupled by a screw thread relation.
 12. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 11, wherein said axle includes a knob section disposed on the opposite side of said axle sleeve.
 13. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 10, wherein said axle pipe at its exterior includes a pair of pivotal ears pivotally coupled to the top of said second rod.
 14. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 8, wherein said transversal rod includes at least one pad.
 15. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 9, further comprising a hanging rod installable to or detachable from said two first rods, and said two hanging rods having the same height and being extended in a direction away from said second rod.
 16. The bicycle rack and rear wheel stand assembly of claim 15, wherein said each hanging rod includes at least one fixture. 